Albuquerque Democrat drops out of congressional race

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An Albuquerque Democrat says she has halted her campaign for Congress because of health concerns. The Albuquerque Journal reports (http://bit.ly/2yG8W3h ) Annie Chavez, who worked as an aide to then-Sen. Jeff Bingaman, said Monday she dropped out "due to unforeseen health circumstances." Chavez's departure leaves eight Democrats in the race — all seeking their party's nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Democrats have held the seat since 2009. The remaining Democratic candidates are attorney Damian Lara; former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Damon Martinez; Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis; former University of New Mexico Law School Associate Dean Antoinette Sedillo Lopez; Edgewood Town Councilor John Abrams; former state Democratic Party Chairwoman Debra Haaland; physicist Dennis Dinge; and John Flores, a former journalist and military veteran. ___ Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com